POPULAR head teacher Phil Hilditch will be teeing off on the next chapter in his life after saying an emotional farewell to pupils and colleagues.

An electric golf trolley and a cheque to enable him to buy some golf clubs were among the gifts Mr Hilditch received following his retirement from Davenham C of E Primary School.

Mr Hilditch was head teacher at the school for 21 years, and year five children related his life story at a special assembly.

Mr Hilditch received a canvas picture composed of words and phrases from pupils to describe the retiring head of the school, and a book featuring tributes from parents.

A cheque was presented by parents and staff to pay for a set of golf clubs Mr Hilditch wanted, and the school’s PTA had bought him an electric golf trolley.

Mr Hilditch’s family attended the assembly, which was followed by a barbecue on the school field.

“The events were a celebration of what Mr Hilditch has achieved, and the whole school community will miss him,” said Joanne Hyslop, who is to succeed Mr Hilditch.

Mr Hilditch, 63, grew up in Castle and was the youngest of three children. He attended Darwin Street Primary School and Hartford Secondary Modern for boys.

He left school at 16 and became a site engineer at KenMac, and in 1970 he began working as an estate agent at JP Austin and Sons.

In 1974 a friend of his who had just started teaching showed off his new car, and wanting a car like his friend, he made the decision to go into teaching.

Mr Hilditch began studying at Padgate College the same year and spent three years training to be a teacher.

He secured his first teaching job, at Cuddington Primary School, at the age of 25, remaining there for five years before moving in 1982 to Wallerscote Primary School in Weaverham.

Mr Hilditch met his wife, Helen, while teaching in 1984, the couple married in 1986, and Mr Hilditch became deputy head teacher at Davenham School in 1987. In July 1991 he became a dad to his first daughter, Rosie.

Four years later, in January 1995, he became the head teacher of Davenham C of E Primary school and that December Annie was born.

Mr Hilditch was the last head teacher at the old site of Davenham School and the first head teacher at the current site.

Mrs Hyslop has worked at the school for eight years and has been deputy head teacher for four years. Her son Thomas, 13, attended Davenham Primary School.

“I am extremely excited about my first headship, and honoured to be taking over from such a highly respected head teacher,” she said.